Ewen McKenzie makes the right moves with a Wallabies squad not afraid to have a crack

A thread of sound logic weaves its way through Ewen McKenzie's first Wallabies squad of the year.

Newcomers Will Skelton and Luke Jones provide a crackling of excitement, but it is the continuity from last year's end-of-season tour that appeals the most.

There was something building there in those final Tests, evident especially in some of the excellent tries against Wales in Cardiff. The danger in this squad was deviating too much from what was starting to click in 2013, and McKenzie has avoided it.

The key appointments are the naming of Kurtley Beale and Bernard Foley as the No.10s in the party, with Matt Toomua listed as a No.12.

Playmaker ... Kurtley Beale has been chosen as a No.10 for the Wallabies. Photo: Getty Images

Think back to the try scored by Christian Lealiifano in that Welsh Test. It began with British and Irish Lions hooker Richard Hibbard in possession, and finished seconds later with Lealiifano dotting down on the opposite side of the field after contributions from Sekope Kepu, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, Will Genia, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Quade Cooper and Joe Tomane.

It was a fantastic score, mixing real aggression in defence with speed and skill on the counter attack, especially when Cooper injected himself into the attack at pace and drew the Welsh towards him to create the room for Tomane on the outside.

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Cooper is gone of course, but McKenzie has gone like-for-like (as much as it's possible) with his replacements. Beale and Foley have spent the year looking for holes, trying to pull defences out of shape. They won't get away with that as easily in Tests but with Toomua beside them there is a great second voice, a balanced player that gives them a licence to play.

In colloquial terms, the Wallabies look like they are going to have a crack.

The Super Rugby franchises have more than played their part to build on the Wallabies late-2013 momentum. Apart from the Reds, the season has been notable for players getting better. Ben McCalman, Toomua, Pat McCabe, Nick Phipps, Beale, Jones, Skelton, Nathan Charles, Matt Hodgson – and that is just a sampling of the list.

And although Tevita Kuridrani's name hasn't been as prominent as last year, that may simply be because it is familiar and his deeds are causing fewer ripples.

He is such an asset. There was the brilliant line he ran against the Hurricanes for a try in Wellington in round four, and then the thrust out of the tackle against Chief and All Black Sam Cane, who doesn't miss many, for another five-pointer in Canberra. When Henry Speight becomes eligible during the Rugby Championship, the Wallabies are going to have a good selection of powerful, explosive backs who can break tackles.

As for the four Reds players who have made it, they have been along long enough to make the distinction between Super Rugby and Tests. The change in environment might even feel liberating. It certainly wouldn't surprise to see their big players – James Horwill and Genia – perform strongly against the French. The game will certainly seem a lot more enjoyable when Israel Folau is your No.15.

There are a few question marks about the squad of course, and the French are good enough to make things awkward. Ben Mowen's departure creates a bigger problem than is probably realised. Not only is he a fine lineout operator, but his communication with referees – he is very smart about when to press a point and when to back off – is without peer in Australia. And with Tomane injured and Speight still awaiting clearance the wing options could be stronger.

But first impressions of this squad is that it is a good start. It is enough to win the French series, and enough to play the game in a number of subtly different ways, and enough to see that McKenzie has set a course for the Rugby World Cup that embraces those who can play off the cuff, and there is no turning back.